Support after I'm discharged

The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District has many free services for children up to the age of 16. Details can be found in Kids and Families.

For mental health issues, see the Mental Health section below.

The Division of Rehabilitation, Aged and Extended Care has services based across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. Our specialist teams collaborate with other specialists and primary health care providers to care for patients in hospital, in their homes, or in residential care facilities.

Details can be found in Rehabilitation, Aged and Extended Care.

You will be contacted by an Aboriginal Health Worker within our team for support and follow-up after discharge, unless you decline this service. This check in phone call will happen within 2 days after your discharge from hospital. Please make sure staff have documented your correct contact details before you leave hospital. The number will come up on your phone as an unknown number.

You can also contact the Access and Referral Centre to be linked with the right health service for your care. See details of services here.

Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) is committed to improving the physical, cultural, spiritual and family well-being of Aboriginal people to reach their full potential. ISLHD's Aboriginal Health Strategy unit leads our approach to developing strategies and policies to ensure that our services are Culturally Safe and Welcoming, and of a high quality for Aboriginal people and their family.

If you or someone close to you is in distress or immediate danger dial 000 as soon as possible.

• For crisis support call Lifeline Australia 24/7 on 13 11 14
• Lifeline | 131144
• Kids Helpline | 1800 55 1800
• Suicide Callback Service | 1300 659 647
• Beyond Blue | 1300 22 46 36
• Black Dog Institute
• MensLine Australia | 1300 78 99 78
• Suicide Call Back Service | 1300 659 467
• Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling | 1800 011 046
• Qlife – anonymous and free LGBTI peer support | 1800 184 527 – (3pm-midnight daily)
• The National Indigenous Postvention Service – After Suicide Support 24/7 | 1800 805 801
• Brother to brother 24-hour crisis line | 1800 435 799
• 24/7 national crisis line support for Indigenous Australians - 13YARN or 13 92 76
• Reach out to @headspaceAustralia for an online chat or to find a headspace centre at www.headspace.org.au

If you need a referral to specialist mental health support, please call the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511.

See details of Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District's Mental Health services.

ISLHD's Illawarra Shoalhaven Cancer and Haematology Network provides comprehensive cancer care treatment and support services for patients. See details here.

There is support available in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions for those patients and their carers who require support for dementia.

Visit the Dementia Advisory Service for details.

Allied health personnel are health care practitioners with specialist knowledge in the identification, assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease, disabilities and disorders. Services include counselling, rehabilitation, nutritional services, disease prevention and management, mental and physical health promotion, early intervention and health management. Allied health services are provided in a variety of settings across the health spectrum.

Details of Allied Health services available in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District can be found in Allied Health.

Illawarra Shoalhaven Drug and Alcohol Service offers a range of treatment and support services for people with problems from their alcohol, prescription or illicit drug use, and/or for their families and carers. All services are free, confidential and non-judgemental. The service coordinates and arranges the best treatment and support based on individual needs.

Details can be found at the Drug & Alcohol Service.

The Illawarra Brain Injury Service (IBIS) is an outpatient, outreach and community based rehabilitation service for people who have sustained a traumatic brain injury. It services residents of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health District.

See details at the Illawarra Brain Injury Service.

ISLHD provides a comprehensive multidisciplinary range of services to improve people’s ability to function, and optimise their quality of life.

See services here.

ISLHD's Palliative Care Service provides expert care, with a team of specialist doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, volunteer coordinators and compassionate volunteers to help patient navigate the challenges of living with illness. Our Service collaborates with your care team, including GPs and other specialists to enhance your comfort and quality of life, allowing you and/or your loved ones to focus on living life to the fullest. See details here.

ISLHD Community Health services provide care in a community setting (in clinics and in homes). This includes general and specialist nursing care, allied health services as well as counselling services, women’s health, sexual health, chronic disease support and the diabetes service. See details of services here.

See ISLHD's Neurology / Stroke services.

You can also find more information on recovering from a stroke on these websites:

• Stroke Foundation (consumers section): https://enableme.org.au/
• Vision Australia:   https://visionaustralia.org/
• Stroke Recovery Association NSW: https://strokensw.org.au/
• Australian Aphasia Association – www.aphasia.org.au

Transport for Health works with people to find the best transport option for their medical needs. Services include Community Transport, the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme and the Transport Subsidised Taxi Scheme. 

Before going home from hospital, ask your doctor about any driving restrictions you may have.

To receive a government subsidised service you must contact My Aged Care to register your details.

You will then be contacted by a local assessment service (Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) or Regional Assessment Service (RAS)). An assessor will make a time to come and speak to you about the types of help you and the person you care for need to live safely and well at home.

They may assess you as needing one or two services (Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)), or they may assess you as needing a package of services (called a Home Care Package - HCP). 

My Aged Care can be contacted on 1800 200 422, Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm and Saturday, 10am-2pm. You can also visit My Aged Care online.

The NDIS provides money to people under 65 who have a permanent and significant disability to pay for services, equipment and supports so they can have a better life. Visit the NDIS website to see how the NDIS works, check your eligibility and learn about the application process.

Health Promotion works to improve the health and wellbeing of people who live in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.

The service works in partnership with organisations and groups in the community - like schools, daycare centres, preschools and community organisations - to help people make healthy living choices. This is done by providing a range of healthy eating and active living programs for people of all ages.
 
Health Promotion focuses on healthy eating, physical activity, preventing falls in older people and reducing cigarette smoking.

Details are at Health Promotion.